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Being faced with a near-dead phone and no way to recharge can be a little panic-inducing. A portable power bank can help keep that feeling at bay, giving your devices a quick charge no matter how far you stray from an outlet. Toss a small one in your pack for a partial refill on a smartphone, or grab a higher-capacity battery to take to the diner where you'll park it for the day to work on your laptop. We've tested dozens of battery packs for this guide over the past year to come up with our top picks and help you find the best portable charger to fit your needs.
What to look for in a portable battery pack
Battery type
Nearly every rechargeable power bank you can buy (and most portable devices) contain a lithium-ion battery. These beat other current battery types in terms of size-to-charge capacity, and have even increased in energy density by eight fold in the past 14 years. They also don't suffer from a memory effect (where battery life deteriorates due to partial charges).
One drawback you may have heard is the possibility of lithium ion batteries catching fire. To limit the danger, battery packs require internal mechanisms to limit things like voltage and pressure. While you should still make sure a battery isn't exposed to unnecessary stress like excessive heat, damage from drops or operating in freezing weather, battery packs are considered safe enough to bring on an airplane. According to the
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